Improvement in processes of restoring crape, laces



UNITED STAT S PATENT OFFICE.

V VA REID, oF N'Ew YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN PROCESSES OF RESTORING GRAPE, LACES, 84c.

Specification forming part of Letters PatentNo. 194,264, dated August14, 1877; application filed July 18, 1877. I

' To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, EVA B. REID, of NewYork, in the county of New Yprk and State New York, have invented a newand useful Improvement in Processes of Bestorin g Grape, &c., of whichthe following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying draw- 1ngs.

My invention relates to an improvementon the patent granted to A. J.Shriver, dated June 27, 1876, and reissued June 26, 1877.

. This invention relates to a new process for restoring crape, laces,and other similar thin materials, and has for its object to renovate andrestore such fabrics when the same have become discolored or damaged byuse, exposure, or otherwise.

To this end my invention consists in immersing or saturating the fabricin a solution composed of alcohol, shellac, vinegar and water, and asuitable dye-stuff, prepared in the peculiar manner hereinafterdescribed, then drying such saturated fabric, and afterward subjectingit to the action of steam, whereby the 7 color of the dye is broughtfreshly out and the alcohol expelled. The shellac or otherstiffening-gum, being insoluble in water, is left upon the surface ofthe fabric, and serves to preserve the freshness of its color andtexture.

In carrying out my process I first take about one gallon of alcohol, andadd to it about eleven ounces of English brown shellac, and permit thesame to remain until the shellac has been perfectly dissolved in thealcohol, which will be within the course of one or two hours. I thenprepare a second solution, entirely independent of the first solutionmentioned, this solution consisting of about one and a half pints ofpure vinegar and soft water and six packages of British ink-powder,

, which latter is composed of three parts of redoak bark, two parts ofsulphate of iron, and two parts of gum-arabic.

After this second and separate solution from the first has beenthoroughly and effectually dissolved and mixed together, I add to it thefirst-named solution of alcohol and shellac, whereby the constituentparts of all the ingredients mentioned can and are thoroughlyincorporated with each other, whereby 1 produce a most suitable dye andbath for carrying out my improved process.

I now take the crape, lace, or other fabric to be restored or renewed,and immerse it in the liquid until it is thoroughly saturated, and thenwring it out and dry it in any convenient manner and by any suitablemeans, after which I expose the dried fabric to a jet of steam untilevery portion has been effectu- V ally subjected to the action of thesame, by

which means I am enabled to completely restore and renovate fadedcrapes, laces, and other analogous fabrics, to cleanse them, to

permanently fix the desired color, restore their original freshness, andpreserve their beauty.

As has been before stated,the shellac or other stiffening-gum employed,which is insoluble in water, is not affected by the action of the steam,and is left upon the surface of the fabric and serves to accomplish someof the important functions set forth, namely, the freshness of itscolor, and imparting a stiffness to the fabric.

The drying of the fabric prior to the steaming action is an importantfeature, for the reason that the shellac or stiffening-gum, whiledrying, will run in spots over the fabric, and the steam-jets melt thesame, andcause it to spread evenly and uniformly over the fabric, andcrimping the crape, and the shellac retaining it in such crimpedcondition.

The important and essential feature of my process consists in, first,preparing the solution of alcohol and shellac, and then preparing asecond and independent solution from the first named, composed of thedye-stuff, vinegar, and water, thoroughly dissolving the dye-stuff inthe same, and then bringing the two solutions together, whereby thealcoholic solution can be thoroughly incorporated with the d ye-stuffsolution, owing to the presence of the acid in the vinegar, such stepsbeing essential to form the immersing-bath, for otherwise the Britishink-powder or dye-stuff, which contains a large percentage of sulphateof iron, could not be dissolved and incorporated with the alcohol.

If desired, when the dye-stuff is composed partly of a gum. I-candispense with the shellac in the alcohol, but otherwise the process isthe same.

It has heretofore been proposed to make a solution in which to immersecrape and'lace preparatory to subjecting them to the action of steam,composed of alcohol, British inkpowcler, and shellac; but I have foundby experiment that such is not practical, for the reason that theBritish ink-powder, owing to the presence of a large percentage ofsulphate of iron, cannot alone be dissolved in alcohol, and such Itherefore disclaim.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Ihe within-described process of renovating and restoring crape, lace,andother analogous fabrics-that is to say, immersing or saturating thesame in a solution of alcohol, shellac, vinegar and water and dye-stuff,prepared in the manner herein efore set forth, then wringing out anddrying the fabric, and finally subjecting it'to the action of steam,substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 7 In testimony that Iclaim the foregoing improvement in processes'for restoring crape, 8tc.,as above described, I have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of July,1877.

' EVA B. REID. Witnesses:

J. H. GIFFOBD, JNO. E. CONNOR.

